Did a meteorite fall on TN college causing an explosion and killing one?
Scientists finds out
February 8, 2016

Some experts suggest that it could not have been a meteor as their shower
was not expected till April.

Following the death of a man in an explosion on Saturday in Vellore, a
team led by ISRO found an object which looks like a meteorite, and the
police has sought help from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA),
Bangalore, to confirm if it is indeed one.

Experts from ISRO claim that the object was 2cm in width, weighed 50 grams
and looked like a meteorite. However, the Vellore district police have
asked for help from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru.

"We have requested experts from IIA, to come over to Vellore to examine
the object and identify whether it is a meteorite. They have agreed to
come here on Monday," Superintendent of Police (SP) of Vellore PK Senthil
Kumari told The New Indian Express.

The object is brownish in colour and has air bubbles on its rigid surface.
The object was found by Vellore police with the help of a team from ISRO,
behind the college canteen, according to TNIE.

Another meteorite was suspected to have fallen 18-20 km away from the
college on January 26, 2016. Some experts suggest that it could not have
been a meteor as their shower was not expected till April.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minsiter J Jayalalithaa also said that the death of the
man was caused by a meteorite. She said in a press release, "A mishap
occurred yesterday when a meteorite fell in the campus of a private engineering
college in Vellore district's K Pantharappalli village," adding
that she had ordered the district administration and hospital officials
to offer the best treatment to the three injured.
Received on Mon 08 Feb 2016 02:17:12 AM PST